Indiana Pacers: The evolution of Myles Turner in 2017-18

Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner still has a lot of untapped potential, but he’s shoring up some of his weaknesses and his overall game is growing.

Myles Turner came to the Indiana Pacers in 2015 and ignited fans’ expectations with a strong performance during his rookie season. Early in his third NBA campaign, however, some fans were beginning to question whether Turner could make the leap they were previously anticipating.

Turner does a lot of things well; that list would include outside shooting and shot-blocking. He does have deficiencies, and coming into the 2017-18 season it was evident that he would have to improve in those areas to have a chance to place himself among the best centers in the league.

One common thing that most young players must improve upon is their physical strength. Turner came into the NBA as a slender 19-year-old with little ability to bang inside with more experienced and physically mature players.

He has made an effort to put on weight and get stronger, and that work is beginning to pay off. Turner can now finish better around the rim, battle for contested rebounds and play tougher individual defense in the post.

When observing Turner on the court, it is apparent in the appearance of his physique and in the way that he is able to play that he has added muscle to his frame.

Myles Turner definitely got stronger this summer. The kid is going after every rebound and not getting pushed around now.
— Classic (@CallMeClassicc) October 19, 2017

Turner is still not a high-impact offensive player in the paint, but his ability to gain (and maintain) position and post up in the lane has improved.

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Another area where we’ve seen growth from Myles Turner is in his awareness and ability to make the right pass, particularly when he has the ball near the basket — he’s finding teammates for quality looks at the hoop, which is not something he was able to do on a regular basis in the past.

Earlier in Turner’s career, he was almost exclusively a jump shooter. Now, he’s begun to drive the ball toward the rim when defenders close out on him, which creates an opportunity for him to score or to make a play for someone else.

The emergence of Victor Oladipo has deservedly garnered most of the headlines this year, but Indiana’s surprising 19-14 record is made up of much more than just Oladipo’s career season.

Myles Turner may be a bit under the radar at this point, but he has developed a role on this new-look Pacers team and he’s played his part very well.

Turner has not become a go-to guy as some thought he would after Paul George‘s departure, but he’s been a steady offensive contributor and recently took over as the No. 2 scorer on the team at 14.7 points per game.

The subtle improvements he has made have combined to make him a better and more important player than in the past, and it’s showing in the team’s record.

Turner has even become more proficient at one of his biggest strengths (blocking shots), as he is currently leading the NBA with an average of 2.5 blocks per contest.

Next: 2018 NBA Mock Draft: End of 2017 edition

Climbing the NBA ladder and working one’s way toward stardom is a process that requires patience, but Myles Turner has made strides in several key areas that have made him a more well-rounded and valuable member of the Indiana Pacers.

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